Category Manager – Indirects, Aftersales & NPD
Sector: Manufacturing
Location: Birmingham - Hybrid – 3 days on-site
Salary: Up to £55,000 + excellent benefits
Sector: Advanced Manufacturing
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time
A leading global manufacturer with a strong reputation for engineering excellence is seeking an experienced Category Manager to take ownership of a substantial spend portfolio across indirect goods and services, aftermarket components, and NPD support.
This is a key strategic role within a high-performing procurement function, based at the organisation’s European headquarters. Working within a collaborative and forward-thinking culture, you’ll play a pivotal part in driving value, ensuring supply continuity, and enabling innovation across the business.
The Role
You will lead category strategy development, supplier partnerships, and sourcing activity across a broad non-production portfolio. Key responsibilities include:
* Develop and deliver category strategies across multiple indirect and aftermarket categories.
* Conduct spend analysis, demand forecasting and market intelligence to identify optimisation opportunities.
* Build multi-year plans for supplier development, sustainability, and risk mitigation.
* Drive alignment across departments to optimise total cost of ownership.
* Monitor KPIs and adjust strategies to deliver measurable value.
* Integrate procurement into early-stage product development activities.
* Engage suppliers early to influence cost, design and manufacturability.
* Identify, evaluate and develop suppliers globally.
* Lead RFP/RFQ processes and negotiate robust commercial agreements.
* Ensure compliance with category strategy and internal requirements.
About You
Essential:
* Minimum 2 years’ experience in a procurement leadership or management role.
* Experience working in a manufacturing or engineering environment.
* Strong commercial acumen with experience of managing significant spend and multiple projects.
* Knowledge of ERP/MRP systems.
* Excellent negotiation, problem-solving and stakeholder-management skills.
* Highly accurate with strong attention to detail.
Desirable:
* CIPS Level 4+ or relevant equivalent
* Experience in technical manufacturing or food processing environments.
* Project management experience.
If you feel this role aligns with you, we would love to discuss the role and your experience further and look forward to your CV / Application.